Dolphin news, features and articles

Members of the dolphin family are among the most recognizable animals in our ocean, be they cute bottlenose dolphins or mighty orcas. Stories about the weird reason dolphins drink each other's pee, how dolphins taught each other to moonwalk and an extremely rare albino dolphin sighting are just part of what we have to offer. If you want to learn more about these captivating cetaceans, then trust Live Science's expert writers and editors to deliver the latest news, features and articles about dolphins.
Explore Dolphins
Latest about Dolphins

Wild orcas offer humans food. Could they be trying to make friends — or manipulate us?
By Patrick Pester published
Researchers have documented orcas dropping prey and other marine life in front of humans, as if offering us food. The orcas' motives are uncertain, but the sharing behavior could be an attempt at a cross-species relationship or manipulation.

Still frame from video footage recorded in the Kvænangen fjords, Norway, in 2024, showing the tongue-nibbling interaction between two free-ranging killer whales.
By Jess Thomson published
Footage captures a pair of orcas nibbling each other's tongues in the Kvænangen fjords in northern Norway. Scientists think this rarely seen behavior could play a role in social bonding.

Salmon-hat wearing orcas also give each other massages with kelp, scientists discover
By Chris Simms published
Orcas have been spotted giving each other rubdowns with kelp tools, rubbing pieces of the seaweed between their bodies.

Living lunch box? Iceland orcas are unexpectedly swimming with baby pilot whales, but it's unclear why.
By Marina Wang published
Newborn pilot whales have been spotted mysteriously swimming among pods of orcas. Scientists are trying to puzzle out how the pilot whale calves got there and what happened to them.

'Incredible and rare' sight as endangered whale attacked by 60 orcas in brutal hunt
By Jess Thomson published
A massive gang of over 60 orcas was seen brutalizing an endangered pygmy blue whale off the coast of Western Australia by a whalewatching tour.

Dolphins: Facts about the intelligent marine mammals that use tools to hunt
By Jess Thomson published
Discover interesting facts about how dolphins sleep, if they're dangerous, and what they eat.

Orcas off Antarctica filmed teaching calves to hunt in incredible new footage
By Hannah Osborne published
The adult orcas swam around the ice demonstrating how to pull a seal off by its tail.

Orcas: Facts about killer whales
By Marilyn Perkins, Patrick Pester last updated
Discover interesting facts about orcas, the deadly and beautiful predators that lurk in every ocean.

Grieving orca mom carries dead calf around on her head for a 2nd time
By Patrick Pester published
An orca famous for carrying a dead calf around has once again been spotted with a deceased newborn on her head in Puget Sound, but there's some good news for her endangered southern resident killer whale pod.
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.